The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has stepped up its campaign to safeguard academic integrity, warning against the misuse of honorary degrees and unearned titles in public life.
In its latest move, the regulator has directed Richard Kofi Asiedu, Chief Executive Officer of St. Andrews Group of Schools & Companies, to immediately stop using the title “Doctor,” after investigations revealed his doctorate was honorary and not obtained through formal academic study.
Academic Standards Under Scrutiny
In a letter dated August 13, 2025, and signed by Deputy Director-General Prof. Augustine Ocloo, GTEC stressed that honorary degrees do not entitle recipients to adopt the “Dr” prefix in professional or official settings. The Commission said it had repeatedly requested verifiable documentation of Mr. Asiedu’s qualifications but none had been provided.
“Intelligence available to the Commission indicates that the Doctorate in question is honorary. As such, the use of the title ‘Dr’ in public or official capacities is not permissible for honorary degrees,” the letter stated.
Integrity of Ghana’s Academic System
Officials warned that misrepresenting honorary titles as earned academic qualifications misleads the public and threatens the credibility of Ghana’s educational system. GTEC has therefore ordered Mr. Asiedu to not only stop using the title but also provide evidence that it has been removed from all company profiles, websites, letterheads, and other official platforms.
Wider Implications
The directive reflects GTEC’s broader determination to clamp down on the growing trend of individuals parading honorary awards as earned academic titles. According to education observers, the practice has become widespread in Ghana and risks devaluing legitimate academic achievements.
GTEC emphasized that it will continue monitoring public figures and institutions to ensure compliance, warning that “a serious view will be taken of the use of unearned academic titles, whether locally or internationally conferred, that lack formal validation.”
